Highlights

Homovanillic acid (HVA) measurement in urine is used for screening children for catecholamine-secreting tumors such as neuroblastoma, pheochromocytoma, and other neural crest tumors and monitoring those who have had treatment for these tumors.

HVA measurement is also useful to diagnose children with disorders of catecholamine metabolism such as monamine oxidase-A deficiency, which results in decreased urinary HVA values, and dopamine beta-hydroxylase deficiency, which results in elevated urinary HVA values.

Treatment with L-dopa can impact test results and should be discontinued 24 hours prior to collection. Bactrim can impact test results and should be noted at time of collection.